Millennials in office: Foo Cexiang & Shawn Loh reflect on their new jobs & why they think they got them

They had entered politics for just over a year, and now they have been selected to join the government.

As part of the latest Cabinet reshuffle, first-term Members of Parliament (MPs) Foo Cexiang and Shawn Loh will be taking on additional duties as Ministers of State (MOS) from Sep. 1, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2027, respectively.

Foo and Loh have several things in common: both have large young families, now work in the private sector, and spent a large part of their careers as senior civil servants.

Foo was a director at the Ministry of Transport, where he oversaw private and future mobility. Loh was a director of security and resilience programmes at the Ministry of Finance and served as Budget director in 2024 and 2025.

Given their young age — Foo is 41, and Loh is 39 — the move paints a rather bright future for them in Singapore's next generation of leaders.

If you ask them, though, the road ahead at this point is a little more complicated.

Foo, who will become MOS for Manpower and Trade and Industry, said he's excited to work on creating good jobs for Singaporeans and preparing them for the AI age.

But he also feels "a little apprehension", not knowing what his specific portfolio will entail.

He summarised his emotions about his new post: "Excited, apprehensive, grateful."

Similarly, Loh shared his mix of anticipation and nerves about stepping into the roles of MOS for Education and Health.

"Many in my generation have this feeling when we take on new responsibilities and new accountabilities — we don't know whether we can perform," he said.

"It's a bit of an imposter syndrome," he acknowledged. "But most certainly I'll try my best."

A good start

Holding political office is not a task just anyone can take on.

So why did Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believe these two relatively fresh faces are up for it?

At a Jul. 23 press conference announcing the new Cabinet line-up, PM Wong explained that he was bringing the two men into government because "they have made a good start as MPs".

Which leaves much room for interpretation.

Loh gave his take with humility, saying first that PM Wong was "very generous with his words".

Rather than refer to himself, he went on to commend the work of his group representation constituency (GRC) team.

"We've tried our best, and we've done our best to serve the community here in Jalan Besar GRC," he said.

Echoing his words, Foo believes his own team at Tanjong Pagar GRC has also "done [their] best to try to address" their residents' problems.

Not forgetting to bring joy to their days too. Despite being a self-professed introvert, his face lit up as he shared about joining residents at events to sing, dance, exercise, and just have fun together.

"I really enjoy [these times] from the bottom of my heart," he said, and it shows in the videos, brimming with his playful energy.

Millennial energy

Being young can often be conflated as lacking competence for a job, but Foo and Loh both have over a decade of experience in civil service each prior to their entrance into politics.

Plus, rather than seeing his youth as a downside, Loh sees it as a unique perspective and energy that he hopes to bring to the table in the Cabinet.

Perhaps it is this confidence in his diverse strengths that led him to boldly tell PM Wong he was open to joining any ministry.

When PM Wong spoke to him about moving to the front bench, he "very kindly" asked whether there was a ministry Loh wanted to go to, and any he did not.

Loh turned the question back to him, telling PM Wong to post him wherever he thought he could best contribute to solve the major issues of the country.

"He was taken aback," Loh recalled with a laugh.

"He was like, 'I asked you, and you ask me back?'... But that's pretty much the way in which I'm approaching the new season."

Speaking his mind

Apart from the additional work, becoming a Cabinet member also means some other changes.

For one, questioning the government is a role traditionally designated for backbenchers and opposition MPs.

Political office holders are instead tasked to answer those questions. This means both men will no longer be able to ask questions in Parliament — something that Foo in particular has actively done as an up-and-coming MP.

When we asked him about how he thinks his role in Parliament will change, he said that he "fully intends to continue speaking [his] mind".

In his new capacity, this means doing so in representing the ministry's policies, or even engaging in debate with other Members of Parliament.

"I think [that] doesn't change," he said of his trademark outspokenness.

He added that he also plans to continue engaging his fellow government compatriots in other settings, to represent the concerns of his residents.

Family considerations

Finally, there's the need to figure out a new balance between work and home, as both men are also young fathers with large families.

The job of an MOS will demand more of their time and energy, and they have already started making space for it by making plans to step down from their current roles in private companies.

But they will not be stepping away from their families.

Foo, who has three daughters aged four to nine, has frequently shared on his social media fun moments with his children, including at events with the residents.

In fact, he was on holiday with his family in Ipoh when PM Wong's secretary told him the prime minister wanted to meet him. He did not know then that it was about joining the Cabinet, but he saw no reason to cut short his holiday.

When the meeting happened the following week and he learnt the news, his mind was still on his family.

"One of my considerations was actually to maybe not have too much travelling in the immediate term because my children are still very small," he told Mothership.

As for Loh, this new balancing act does not seem to him like it will be very different from the current one between his roles as an MP, a corporate leader, and a young father.

Still, with four children ranging from five to 13 years old, he admitted that it will be a big challenge.

"I can't promise anyone, including my family, that would be an easy journey, but most certainly, I'll try my best to balance everything."

And trying his best, he feels, is good enough. "You don't have to be perfect in everything," he added.

"For my family, I make sure I'm faithful in the small things — the small promises I make, to wake my kids up in the morning, to try to put them to bed in the evening, have meals, have conversations with them on a very regular basis.

And that's something that I hope to advocate for, not just for myself, but for all families in Singapore."